Lavrick Willocks is said to be the ringleader in the alleged scam that has bilked at least 90 mostly elderly US residents out of more than US.7 million.

Another variant of the scam, dating back to circa 1830, appears very similar to what is passed via email today: "Sir, you will doubtlessly be astonished to be receiving a letter from a person unknown to you, who is about to ask a favour from you...", and goes on to talk of a casket containing 16,000 francs in gold and the diamonds of a late marchioness. It then asked what to do with profits from a .6 million investment, and ended with a telephone number.

Two of the eight Jamaicans who were today extradited to stand trial in the United States grinned as US Federal agents led them to the door of a chartered aeroplane.

"One of the things that I am concerned about is when you have persons in society who you would look up to, persons who you would consider educated, some of these persons have certain influence and you hear them on the media, and they are saying that when you get rid of lottery scamming, you're sending the youths to carry out other criminals activities," he said.

Watson's statement comes after eight Jamaicans were last week extradited to the United States to stand trial for lottery scamming.

The number "419" refers to the section of the Nigerian Criminal Code dealing with fraud, the charges and penalties for offenders.